Association of British Dispensing Opticians
| Abbreviation | ABDO |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1986 |
| Type | Professional body |
| Legal status | Non-profit company |
| Purpose | Dispensing opticians in the UK |
| Headquarters | 199 Gloucester Terrace, Bayswater, W2 6LD |
Region served | UK |
Membership | 5,300 British dispensing opticians |
General Secretary | Sir Anthony Garrett CBE |
Main organ | ABDO Board (President - Jennifer Brower) |
| Website | ABDO |
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians is the main professional association for opticians in the UK.
History
It was formed in 1986 from the merger of the Association of Dispensing Opticians and the Faculty of Dispensing Opticians.
The General Optical Council was formed by the Opticians Act 1958, to make the British optician profession statutorily protected.
Structure
It is situated off Bishops Bridge Road (A4206), between Royal Oak tube station, to the west, and London Paddington station, to the east. It is opposite the Hallfield Estate.
The ABDO College was established in Godmersham, Kent, in 2001, on the A28. Also based at the ABDO's headquarters are the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians and Federation of Ophthalmic & Dispensing Opticians. It has a publishing division at Crowborough in East Sussex.
Optician training in the UK
Training to become an optician is only available at a few British universities.
- Anglia Polytechnic University
- Aston University
- Bradford College
- City University London
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- University of Manchester
Function
It represents the interests at a national level of British dispensing opticians. It is one of the five representative bodies that make up the Optical Confederation.